At least 63 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a wedding party in Afghanistan.

A further 182 other people were wounded in the attack, which took place in the western part of Kabul.

A witness said the attacker set off the explosives near the stage where children had gathered to dance.

Survivor Ahmad Omid said there had been about 1,200 guests invited to the wedding for his father’s cousin.

He said: ‘There are so many dead and wounded.

‘I was with the groom in the other room when we heard the blast and then I couldn’t find anyone. Everyone was lying all around the hall.’

The dead and injured were taken to hospital, where relatives could be seen wailing and covered in blood.

As the sun rose on Sunday morning, families began to bury their dead, digging graves with their bare hands.

Both the Taliban and a local affiliate of the Islamic State group carry out bloody attacks in the city.

The Taliban has denied any involvement and condemned the bombing.

The blast at the Dubai City wedding hall in western Kabul, a part of the city that many in the minority Shiite Hazara community call home, shattered a period of relative calm.

The latest attack came a few days after the end of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, with Kabul residents visiting family and friends.

The bomber also struck just before Afghanistan marks its 100th independence day on Monday.

The blast comes at an uncertain time in Afghanistan as the United States and the Taliban near a deal to end the 18-year-long war – America’s longest conflict.

Top issues include a US troop withdrawal and Taliban guarantees not to let Afghanistan become a launching pad for global terror attacks.

While the Taliban earlier this year pledged to do more to protect civilians, it continues to stage deadly attacks against Afghan security forces.

Experts see this as an attempt to strengthen its position at the negotiating table.

The conflict continues to take a horrific toll on civilians, who are dying at the hands of the Taliban, US and allied forces and Islamic State affiliates.

Last year, more than 3,800 – including more than 900 children – were killed in Afghanistan according to the United Nations.

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